Two-way plow



G. T. TOMINAC 2,891,459

June 23, 1959 TWO-WAY PLQW 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 15, 1954 IINVENTOR.

GEORGE T. TOMINAC BY W G. T. TOMINAC TWO-WAY PLOW June 23, 1959 FiledOct. 15, 1954 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 N m mm] v\ m 6 g we 3 we a R cm 8 um i Mh 5K w I .3 .1 Eu g a L R u 5 w em mo mo 3 Q Q v Q fl Q: mm 8 N m? N o,*8 UL QM QQN INVENTOR. GEORGE TI TOMINAC BY m, flgltm n W ATTORA/E June23, 1959 s. T. TOMINAC TWO-WAY PLOW '7 Sheets-Sheet 3' Filed 001;. 15.19s:

IN VEN TOR.

A 7'TOR/VE GEORGE I'. TOMINAC MM/QL June 23, 1959 G. T. TOMINAC2,891,459

' I TWO-WAY PLOW Filed Oct. 15, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 115 z 105INVENTOR. GEORGE T. TOMINAC F1. 5 A BY a, :1! I

- A TTORWEY.

June 23, 1959 s. T. TOMINAC v 2,891,459

. TWO-WAY PLOW Filed Oct. 15, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. GEORGE ETOMINAC ATTOR/V KS.

u 23, 1959. T. TOWN 2,8 1,459

TWO-WAY PLOW 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Eiled 001115, 1954 IN VEN TOR.

GEORGE T. TOMINAC avg; e p

h4g4 ATTORNEKi TWO-WAY PLOW George T. Tominac, Deal-born, Mich.,assignor to Massey-Ferguson, 1310., a corporation of MarylandApplication (lctober 15, 1954, Serial No. 462,475

11 Claims. (Cl. 172-210) The invention relates to tractor mountedtwo-way plows and more particulraly to two-way plows of the type havingright and left-hand plow bottoms supported so that they may be rockedabout a fore-and-aft axis to position the plow bottoms for operationalternately.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved plow of the abovegeneral character particularly adapted for use with tractors equippedwith hydraulic lifts such, for example, as that of the Ferguson system,and which is adapted to utilize the tractor hydraulic system foreffecting the selective changeover for right or left-hand operation in amanner permitting more efficient use of the plow and materially reducingthe strains imposed on the parts of the tractor and the plow incident tothe changeover.

A more specific object is to provide changeover mechanism for plows ofthe above type which, by reason of its novel construction andinterconnection with the tractor hydraulic system, is able to move avery heavy load, such as double sets of right and left-hand plowassemblies, from one position to the other in a minimum of time and withrelatively little shock or slam as the assemblies are brought into theirfinal positions of adjustment.

Another object is to provide improved means whereby the lead or lag ofthe plows, that is, their angular disposition with respect to the lineof travel of the implement, may be easily and accurately adjusted formost efficient operation.

Still another object is to provide improved means for adjusting the tiltof the plow, i.e., the angular positions of the bottoms with respect toa horizontal plane, when in working position.

It is also an object of the invention to provide improved means forindexing the swinging coulter commonly provided in two-way plows.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of the preferred embodimentillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a two-way plow embodying thefeatures of the invention, the plow being shown as coupled to aconventional tractor, the rear portion only of which has beenillustrated.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken in offset horizontal planessubstantially on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the plow shown in Figure l. couplings in thetractor being shown in section substantially along the line 33 in Figure1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the plow taken in a planesubstantially along the line 4-4 of Fig 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in offset planessubstantially along the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the control valve and the valve actuatingmechanism with parts broken away and with the supporting structurepartially broken away in a plane substantially along the line 6-6 ofFig. 5.

2,89l,459 Patented June 23, 1 959 Fig. 7 is a sectional view through thevalve mechanism taken in a plane substantially on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view partially in section, of the front coultersupporting and indexing mechanism taken in a horizontal planesubstantially on the line 88 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side view of the plow showing details of themounting for the rear coulter.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken in a vertical plane substantially onthe line ltl-ltl of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which the hydraulicmechanism of the plow is interconnected with the hydraulic system of thetractor.

While the invention has been shown and is described in some detail withreference to a particular embodiment, there is no intention that it belimited to such detail. On the contrary, the intention here is to coverall alternative constructions, modifications, and equivalents fallingwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

Referring now to the drawings, a two-way, two-bottom plow 15 embodyingthe invention is here shown carried by an elevatable rear hitch 16 onthe aft portion of a farm tractor shown at 18. The exemplary plowincludes two pairs of plow bottoms or units 20, 21 and 22, 23, althoughit will be understood that certain features of the invention may be usedto advantage with plows or comparable implements having more or lessthan two ground engaging elements in each set. As shown, each pair ofplow bottoms 2d, 21 and 22, 23 is alternately positionable to engage theground and cut right and left furrows, respectively, as the tractoradvances. The plow 15 may be raised to lowered transport position by thetractor hitch l6 and, in accordance with the invention, the sets ofworking plow bottoms are interchanged in response to raising andlowering the hitch.

Only the rear end of a tractor, partially broken away, has been shown at18 in Fig. 1. In this instance, the elevatable implement hitch 16 is ofthe hydraulically actuated type disclosed in Ferguson Patent No.2,118,180; issued may 24, 1938. The hitch comprises, in general, a pairof laterally spaced forwardly converging draft inks 25 trailinglypivoted to the tractor body for vertical and limited horizontal swingingmotion. A pair of drop links 26 connect the respective draft links 25'to a pair of lift arms 23 carried by a lift shaft 29 journaled on thetractor and rocked by a hydraulic ram 39 to raise the draft links underthe control of a tapered hitch vmve 31 movable by a quadrant lever 32(see also Fig. 11). The valve 31 either permits intake of fluid to apump 33 from a sump 3? so that pressured fluid is supplied behind theram 39, permits fluid to drain from behind the ram 3th to the sump 37,or closes off both lines so that fluid is neither added to nor drainedfrom the ram 30.

The hitch also includes a top or control link 34 which cooperates withthe quadrant lever 32 in actuating the valve 31 for substantiallymaintaining uniform draft on the implement. As herein shown, the toplink 34 is pivoted at its forward end to a rocker member or shackle 35,in turn pivoted to the tractor and operatively connected to control thevalve 31 through a control plunger 36 (Fig. 11) biased by a main controlspring 33. As explained in the above-mentioned Ferguson patent, thedraft on an implement is transmitted by the control link 34 as a forwardthrust against the control spring 38. The deflection of the spring andconsequent displacement of the control plunger 36 proportional to thedraft force actuates the control valve 51 to effect the raising orlowering of the draft links 25 thereby maintaining the draft force onthe implement constant for a given setting of the quadrant lever 32. Insoil of generally uniform texture, the implement is thus maintained at aselected constant depth of operation.

The plow as here shown comprises as its main elements a hollow weldedframe assembly adapted to be carried by the tractor hitch 16 andjournaling a main beam 41 rotatable within limits about an axisfore-andaft of the tractor. A pair of supporting arms or plow beams 44,45 are connected in spaced relation to the main beam 41 through acrossbar 46 pivoted to the latter and receiving clamping assemblies foreach of the arms.

The plow beams 44 and 45 are generally similar in shape, each having ashank 44a and 45a and forked portions 44b and 45b spread at 180 in thegeneral form of an anchor (Figs. 1 and 2). The shanks are provided attheir forward ends With clamp portions 48. The beam for the trailingplow units has a longer shank 45a, its rigidity being enhanced by adiagonal brace 49 bolted between the plow beams. The shorter beam 44carries the two leading plow units 21, 23 at the extremities of itsrespective forked portions 44b, while the longer beam 45 similarlycarries the two trailing plow units 24 22. The right and left pairs 24),21 and 22, 23 of plow units are thus spaced at 180 and adapted to bebrought alternately into engagement with the ground upon rotation of themain beam 41. The construction of the several plow units themselves maybe of any preferred character. Preferably, the trailing units 20, 22 areequipped with furrow wheels 51, 52 to absorb side thrust.

Hydraulic power means acting through a longitudinally shiftable rack 54cooperating with a pinion 55 fast on the beam 41 is provided forrotating the beam. As herein shown, the power means and associated partsare disposed within the frame assembly 40, together with control meansautomatically actuating the hydraulic means from the tractor hydraulicsystem upon elevation of the hitch 16. The plow sets 20, 21 and 22, 23are thus alternately placed in working positions, i.e., to cut right orleft furrows each time the plow 15 is raised to and lowered from thetransport position.

In the interest of weight reduction and economy, a single front coulter58 and a single rear coulter 59 are provided, each mounted by indexingmeans to work in front of either leading and either trailing plow unit,respectively. The coulters are laterally shifted automatically for thispurpose upon indexing of the plow sets as will be described later. Suchshifting of the front coulter 58 is accomplished by an improvedmechanism coupling it to the rotatable main beam. The rear coulter 59 ispivotally mounted, adapting it to swing under the influence of its ownweight.

Frame assembly Referring in more detail to Figs. 1 through 5, the frameassembly 40 includes a hollow cylindrical housing 60 extendingfore-and-aft of the tractor. Oppositely extending transverse hollow arms61, 62 are welded or otherwise rigidly attached to communicate with theinterior of the housing 60. The arms 61, 62 carry at their extremitiesmounting pins 63, 64 adapted for insertion 1'- through captive ballsswiveled in the trailing ends of the draft links 25. An upright U-shapedstrut or bracket 65 is welded to the top of the housing 69 and carriesnear its upper end a transverse pin 66 removably insertable through acaptive ball in the trailing end of the top control link 34. The entirehousing assembly 46 is formed of relatively thin sheet steel fabricatedto form the hollow parts described. it provides maximum strength with aminimum of weight, an important factor in the support of the relativelygreat weight of the four plow bottoms. Additionally, such a frameaffords extreme compactness for the plow organization and protection forthe hydraulic actuating and control means which are disposed within itsconfines, as explained more fully below. Substantially all of theinternal space af- 4 forded by the hollow frame is efficiently utilizedfor protectively mounting the plow indexing mechanism and controlstherefor.

The main beam 41 is journaled in the housing 60 and extends rearwardlyto receive the crossbar 46 and plow beams 44, 45. The forward end of thebeam 41 is capped by a bearing sleeve 68 (Fig. 4) secured to the beam asby a retaining nut 69. The sleeve has a land surface 74 journaled in aforward bearing '71 carried within the housing. At the aft end of thehousing 60, a second bearing 72 engages a land surface 74 formedintegrally on the main beam 41. The beam 41 is thus freely rotatableabout its longitudinal axis within the housing 619. Radial flanges 75and '76 on the bearing cap 68 and integral with the beam itself,respectively, engage the opposite ends of the housing 69 to preventlongitudinal play of the beam 41.

To provide for accurate positioning of the plow units, provision is madefor restricting rotation of the beam 41 within predetermined adjustablelimits. As herein shown, the restricting means comprises a pair ofadjustable screw stops 78, 79 (Fig. 1) threaded into lateral projectionson the housing 60 and engaged alternately by an axial stud 34} fixed ina lug on the aft portion of the beam 41. in the exemplary implement, thepermissible rotation of the beam may be Varied between 180 andapproximately 140 by appropriate adjustment of the stops '78, 79. It isset, as an average, at about 165. The aft portion of the beam 41 alsocarries a pair of rigid pins 81, 82 extending radially at diametricallyopposite points displaced from the stud 8%. These constitute a part ofthe front coulter adjusting mechanism as will appear more fully below.

To provide for mounting the crossbar 46, which carries the plow units,the rear end portion of the beam 41 is bifurcated to present spacedparallel side portions 84, 35 terminating, in this instance, in taperingrearwardly extending arms 86, 87. As shown in Fig. 4, the arms 86, 87may be reinforced by a connecting web 88 which terminates short of theside portions 84, 85, thus leaving a transverse opening 89 through thebeam for the accommodation of the crossbar 46.

Preferably, the crossbar 46 is formed with an enlarged central portionflattened at opposite sides as shown in Fig. 4 and adapted to fit snuglybetween the side portions 84, 85. To provide for adjusting the lead orlag of the plow units, the crossbar 46 is secured to the beam so that itmay pivot about an axis transverse to the axis of the beam 41, in thisinstance by a king bolt 90 inserted through alined apertures in the sideportions 34, 85 and in the central portion of the crossbar.

Angular positioning of the crossbar 46 relative to the beam 41 for suchadjustment may be conveniently effected and maintained through themedium of a centrally located tab 91 integrally formed on the crossbarand extending forwardly therefrom into a recess 92 provided in the beam.A pair of stop screws 94, 95 threaded in the beam and extending into therecess 92 are adapted to engage opposite sides of the tab 91. Uponcomplementary loosening and tightening of the stop screws 94, 95, thebar 46 may be swung to adjust the lag or lead of the plow units whichare, as mentioned heretofore, carried by the plow arms 44, 45 connectedto the crossbar.

The crossbar 46 is also formed with a special cross sectional shapepermitting swinging adjustment of the plow beams to vary the tilt angle.By this means, slight inaccuracies in manufacture or assembly may becompensated to equalize the suck between the oppositely pitched plows inrespect to the longitudinal axes of the main plow beams. As here shown,the leading edges 96 of the end portions of the bar 46 are V-shapedwhile the trailing edges 97 are curved or rounded in cross section(Figs. 1 and 4). The plow beam clamp portions 48 have curved faces forslidably mating with the bars trailing edge 97. Cooperating clamp caps98 have V-shaped faces for engaging the leading edge. These clamp capsmay be tightened by bolts 99 to rigidly embrace, with the clamp portions48, the crossbar 46. Loosening permits the plow beams 44, 45 to beremoved from the bar id, or to have their lateral working positionsadjusted relative to the tractor, or relative to one another.

The clamp connections and bar cross section permit easy and accurateadjustment in the tilt angle of the plow units. For efiecting suchadjustment, a plate 109 rigid with the brace 49 between the two plowbeams 44, 45, is disposed between the rear extremities of the taperedarms 86, 87 on the beam as shown in Fig. 4. The arms carry opposedadjustment bolts 1G1, 1192 hearing on opposite sides of the plate 1%.Upon loosening of the clamp caps 98, the adjustment bolts 1tl1, 162 maybe complementally screwed in and out to rock the plow beams about thelongitudinal axis of the crossbar 46. The clamp portions 43 sliderelative to the bars curved trailing edge 97. When the desired angle oftilt is achieved, tightening of the clamp caps 98 looks the plow beamsin the selected position.

Hydraulic indexing mechanism and control in accordance with anotheraspect of the invention, novel hydraulic operating and control valvemechanism is provided for indexing the plow units, that is, for rotatingthe beam to position the plow units alternately to operating positions.The hydraulic operating mechanism in its preferred form comprises a pairof rams 1M, 1135 in opposed hydraulic cylinders 1%, 107 protectivelydisposed in the respective frame arms 61, 62 (Fig. 5). Each cylinder14%, 1d? is threaded at its inner end into a fitting 108 which isbolted, welded, or otherwise fixed beneath an opening in the housing 69.Conduits 1119, connected to the outer closed ends of the cylinders 1%,167 extend upwardly through the arms 61, 62 to a control valve assembly111 mounted within the upright strut 65. The rack 54 is iloatablydisposed between the two rams 19 i, 1% and meshed with the pinion 55 onthe beam 41. The rack 54 has a convex lower bearing surface 112 (Fig. 4)slidably engaging in a concave saddle or guideway 114 defined in thefitting 198. As shown in Fig. 5, the bearing surface 112 is interruptedby oil grooves 115 to insure adequate lubrication. Alternate pushing ofthe rams 1M, 165 under hydraulic pressure shoves the rack 5d back andforth and thereby rotates the beam 41 in opposite directions.

The control valve mechanism 111 comprises a fourway reversing valveinterposed between the hydraulic cylinders and the pressure pump 33 andsump 39 of the tractors hydraulic system, and valve actuating meansoperable in response to the raising and lowering of the hitch links andimplement. The valve, as shown in Fig. '7, includes a body 116 in theform of a generally rectangular block defining a cylindrical chamber 113for a movable valve member 115 and into which four passages or ports126." open at points uniformly spaced apart circumferentially of thechamber (Fig. 4). For convenience of installation, two of the passages120 open at the front face of the valve body 116 and the other two openrespectively at the sides of the body in ports designed to receive"fittings 121 for the connection of inlet and outlet lines 122 and 123leading to the tractor, and the cylinder conduits 1b? and 1111.

in the exemplary valve, the movable valve member 11) comprises a rotordisposed in the chamber 118. The rotor 119 has a land portion 125 ofenlarged diameter bearing against the chamber wall in the vicinity ofthe passages 12'19. This land portion has defined in it, two passageways126 each communicating with two points spaced at 90 intervals around itscylindrical surface (see also Figs. 4 and 11). The passageways 126 arethus adapted to connect the inlet line 122 with one of the cylinderconduits 109 or 11%, and the outlet line 123 with the other cylinderconduit. Upon rotation through the rotor passageways 126 reverse suchconnections, connecting the cylinder conduit 109 or to the outlet line123 and the other cylinder conduit to the inlet line 122. Successive 90rotations of the rotor 119 cause the cylinders 106 and 107 to bealternately filled and drained with pressured fluid from the tractorshydraulic system. Therefore, the rams 104 and 105 move complementally topush the rack 54 back or forth each time the rotor is stepped 90.

in order that the rotor 119 be sealed against the leakage of thepressured fluid, it is formed with annular recesses 12% on either sideof the land portion, and suitable packing material 129 is placed thereinto bear against the chamber wall. The rotor 119 is held in place by awasher 13d and a retainer 131 snapped into a groove around the entranceto the chamber 118. The rotor 119 further includes a shank 132 extendingfrom such entrance to carry a stepping mechanism and present oppositefiattened portions for receiving a drive element.

The stepping mechanism is provided to rotate the valve rotor 90 eachtime the plow is raised by the tractors hitch. As exemplified here, suchstepping mechanism includes the drive element formed as a four-toothratchet 13 i fast on the flattened portions of the rotor shank 137.. Forone-way stepping of the ratchet 134 a cooperating pawl 135 is slidablybiased by a spring we in a guide slot of a ratchet arm 138. The ratchet134 and ratchet arm 138 are mounted on the rotor shank 132 and lockedthereon by a retaining washer 139 and a nut 14*? threaded on the end ofthe shank. To this end, the ratchet arm 138 has an aperture 141 overwhich an annular bearing plate 142 is Welded, the bearing plate in turnbeing journaled on a collar 14 i carried by a reduced portion of theshank 132. The arm 138 may thus rotate about the longitudinal axis ofthe shank. v

The ratchet arm 13% is rotated clockwise by a linkage comprising a lever1541 (Fig. 4) pivoted in the upright strut es and having a roller 151 onone end engaged by the top link 34 which approaches the strut in ascissoring action as the hitch 16 is raised. This rocks the lever 15%clockwise as viewed in Fig. 4, or counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 6.The opposite end of the lever is connected through a lost motion spring152 to a pin 154 in the ratchet arm 138 which effects clockwise rotationof the latter upon elevation of the hitch. The pawl 135 carries theratchet 134 and rotary element 119 along in such rotation of the ratchetarm. The rotational displacement for each engagement of the pawl 135with the ratchet 134, is limited to 90 by the abutment of a stop car 155with a fastening bolt res which also serves to mount the body 116 in theupright strut 65. The ports 125 of the rotary element 119 are thusaccurately alined each time the element is repositioned by the pawl andratchet.

The ratchet arm 138 is returned to its original position upon loweringof the hitch links by a coiled torsion spring 158 connected between thebolt 156 and the pin 154. The spring encircles the shank 132 to bias thearm 13% in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 6). Upon such return, thespring 136 yields to let the pawl 135 slip freely over the ratchetteeth. The return is limited by a second stop car 159 engaging a secondfastening bolt 169 through the valve block 116, as shown in Fig. 6.

The valve connects the hydraulic rams 104, to the pressure system of thetractor as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 11. The tractorshydraulic system, here shown as the type more fully described inFergusion Patent 2,118,186, comprises the sump 37 containing a su tablefluid, such as oil, together with the pump 33 pted to be continuouslydriven by the tractors prime mover. The longitudinally movable taperedvalve 31 complementally controls the intake 164 from the sump 37 to thepump 33 and a return line 165 from the apparatus to which the pumpsupplies fluid pressure. The pump here supplies pressured fluid to theram 30 which is connected through the lift arms 28 and drop links 26 tothe hitch links 25. Such fluid under pressure serves to elevate thehitch links and raise the plow carried by them to transport position.Fluid is returned to the sump through the exhaust line 165 when thevalve is moved upwardly to close the intake 164 to the pump 33 and openthe exhaust line. The valve 31 is linked for controlled movement to theplunger 36 which is shifted against the bias of the control spring 38under the influence of draft forces applied by the top link 34. Bypermitting the pump 33 to supply more fluid to the ram 30 or by ventingthe ram to the sump 37, the valve 31 maintains a constant draft on theimplement connected to the hitch linkage. As explained previously, foran implement working in soil of generally uniform texture, thismaintains the depth of operation substantially constant.

The inlet and outlet lines 122, 123 from the control valve assembly 111are connected respectively to the ram 3%, i.e., to the pump 33 inparallel with the ram, and to the sump 37, the former connectionincluding a restricted d In accordance with well-known practice in theconstruction of two-Way plows, coulters are provided for knifing throughsod and debris ahead of the plow units. it has been known to provide, inthe interest of weight reduction and economy, a single coulter to workwith either the right or left plow unit, together with means forautomatically shifting the coulter laterally upon changing of workingunits so that it always leads the plow unit which is engaged with theground.

Such practice is followed in the presently illustrated two-way,two-bottom plow. The single front coulter 58 is employed, automaticallyindexed by an especially advantageous and novel mechanism uponalternation of the right and left plow units. Similarly, a simple andunique mounting for the rear coulter 59 adapts it to lead either theleft or the right rear plow unit, depending on which is in the groundengaging position.

The front coulter 58 (Figs. 1, 4, and 8) comprises a circular blade 170rotatably carried between the arms of a fork 171 pivoted on a stem 172.The latter is secured to the forward end of a support arm 174 which ispivoted on a vertical axis near its other end by a bolt 175 threaded ina tapped sleeve 176 welded to the underside of the housing 60. Means areprovided to swing the arm 174 about such axis automatically in responseto the changing or indexing of the plow sets to working positions, theresultant lateral positioning of the blade 170 placing it in front ofthe lower or working front plow unit 21 or 23 as the case may be.

Such means, in the instance here shown as embodying improved featuresaccording to the invention, include an intermediate link 178 pivoted toswing about a vertical axis forward of the arm pivot bolt l75. Suchpivotal mount of the link 1755 is provided by a bolt 17E" threaded intoa tapped boss welded to the underside of the housing 611. The link 178is disposed between tse arm 174 and the housing 63 and has an arcuateslot 18% through which the arm bolt 175 passes, permitting the link toswing without interference from such bolt. of the link 178 has anupright lug or boss i811. located to be engaged by either of the rigidpins 81 and 82 on the main beam 41. Upon rotation of the latter, one ofthe pins 81, S2 pushes against the lug 181 to swing the link 1'78 aboutits forward axis.

The link also has a projection or pin 182 at its aft end enteringdownwardly into a longitudinal slot 184 defined in the arm 174. Uponswing of the link 17%, the pin 182 thus causes the arm 174 to pivotabout its bolt 175 and to thereby laterally position the coulter blade1763. The

The aft end pin 182 slides longitudinally in the slot 184 during suchmovement as indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 8.

The forward end of the arm 174 is supported against bending by rearwardand downward shock forces on the coulter blade by an arcuate guide rail185 Welded at its medial portion to the underside of the housing 69. Therail has an upper ledge on which an angled support 186, welded to thetop of the arm, rides. Adjustable end stops for limiting and determiningthe extreme positions for the arm 174 are aiiorded by bolts 188, 189threaded in radial plates 19% 191 welded to the ends of the guide rail185. Lock nuts retain the stop bolts in selected positions ofadjustment.

The self-indexing front coulter is particularly enhanced by the use ofthe intermediate link 178 which permits the beam pins 31, S2 to hear atsubstantially right angles against the lug 181 throughout the full rangeof coulter swing. If the pins 81, 82 engaged a lug directly on the arm174, such lug would execute an arc of relatively short radius and becomeskewed to the direction of pin travel. However, in the arrangementdescribed, the lug 181 on the link turns through an arc of largerradius, i.e., about the pivot bolt 179, so that for the same lateraldisplacement it is skewed to only a slight degree from the direction ofpin travel. For a given diameter of the beam 41 and lateral travel ofthe beam pins 81, 82, a greater and easier swing of the coulter arm 174is thus achieved.

And, while this front coulter arrangement permits it automatically to beindexed laterally upon rotation of the beam, strength and rigidity arealso provided by the guide rail 185 supporting the front portion of thearm 174.

Rear coulter The rear coulter (Figs. 2, 9, and 10) comprises a circularblade 29% rotatably carried between the arms of a fork 2 31 pivoted onthe end of a stem 202. In accordance with the improved mountingcontemplated by the present invention, means are provided for journalingthe stem to swing about an axis substantially coincident with the axisof the plow beam 45 for the rear units 20, 22. In this instance, a pin204 is disposed between longitudinally spaced ears 205, 2% of a bracket207 bolted to the shank 45a. A sleeve 208, to which the stem 202 iswelded, is both rotatably and axially slidable on the pin 2%, havingfreedom to swing up to As the main beam 41 is rotated and the shank 45is turned over during the indexing of the plow sets, the weight of thestem 2&2 and blade 2% swings them to a depending position, the bladealways thus riding in front of the working aft plow unit 20 or 22 as thecase may be.

In order to stabilize the rear coulter and prevent it from swingingrandomly when the plow is raised to transport position, spring means,yieldable under the coulters weight, are provided for restraining itsmovement until the shank 45a is actually turned over. As here shown acompression spring 2tl9 biases the sleeve 208 toward one end of the pin204, urging a radial, cam-following ear 21d on the sleeve intoengagement with an arcuate cam 211 which may be an integral part of thebracket 2197. The cam has end depressions or slanted notches, rising atits center portion, so that the spring 20% urges the ear 216' into oneend position or the other, thereby holding the coulter stem 2% andsleeve 2% against free swing. The spring 2%? is, however, deformableunder the coulters Weight to permit the blade to assume a dependingposition in front of the aft plow unit whenever the beam 45 is actuallyturned over.

A pair of adjustable stop screws 212, 213 are threaded into the bracket267 to be engaged by the sides of the cam-following ear 210. These serveto limit the extremes of the coulters swing and determine the angle atwhich the coulter depends from the shank. Such adjustment is 9 made tomatch the angle through which the beam 41 is rotated, providing trueleading of the coulter when either deep or shallow furrows are beingplower, as explained more fully below.

Resume of operation With the plow indexed as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,the right plow set 20, 21 is in the lowered working posi- 'tion to turnfurrows to the right of the tractors center line. The right set of plowsis lowered into working position by the hydraulic hitch 16 on thetractor which may then also serve to maintain the draft or depth ofoperation substantially constant as the tractor advances. When the endof the field or furrow is reached, the operator need only raise thehitch by actuating the quadrant lever 32. This raises the working set ofplows from 'the ground and at the same time scissors the top link 34 andupright strut 65 together so that the link 34 engages the roller 151 androcks the valve actuating lever 15%. This in turn, steps the ratchet arm13% (Fig. 6) 90 degrees until the first stop ear 155 en ages thefastening bolt 156. The pawl 135 is engaged with a tooth of the ratchet134 at this time and thus serves to change the rotational position ofthe rotor 134 by 90 degrees, thereby reversing the connections of theinlet and outlet lines 122, 123 to the two respective cylinder conduits109, 110. With the hitch elevating ram 31) receiving fluid pressure asthe hitch'is being elevated, pressured 'fl'uid is thereupon supplied tothe left cylinder 107 (viewed on the right in Fig. which was previouslyconnected by the valve to the tractors sump 3'7, and the right cylinder106, which was previously receiving pressured fluid, is vented to thesump -37. This causes the two rams 104, 105 to move to the left asviewed in Fig. 5, thus pushing the rack 54 to the left and'r'otating themain-beam 41 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 5. The

rotation of the main beam 41 may be up to 180 degrees in extent, but maybe limited by the engagement of the forwardly extending pin 84} on theaft end of the beam withthe left stop bolt 79.

With the restricted orifice 166 (Fig. 11) interposed in the linesupplying pressured fluid through the rotary valve to the right cylinder107, the speed at which the beam 41 rotates is reduced and restrained toa relatively low value. As the rack 54 approaches the'end of itspermissible travel or the pin 80 hits the stop bolt '79, there is thusno slamming or shocking of the engaging parts or undue stresses on theplow arms 44, 45. Yet because the pressure available is relativelygreat, a sufficient force is available to rotate a beam which carries agreat Weight, for example, the entire plow unit shown which may weigh upto eight hundred pounds. Slow,

positive rotation without slam or shock is therefore assured.

The restricted orifice 166 may be made to slow the rotation of the mainbeam 41 to such an extent that the plow 15 is not fully indexed to itsnew position by the time that the hitch links have reachedthe transportposition. As explained in the previously mentioned Ferguson patent, whenthe hitch links 25 reach their upper limit, the tapered valve 31 iscentered by the control plunger 36 to close both the pump intake line164 and the exhaust line 165 (Fig. 11). The weight of the plow returnit'to full transport position. The plow 15, there- 'fore,'ren1ains inuppermost transport position as it com- 'pletesits relatively slowindexing movement. It will be deeper furrows are cut.

1d understood, of course, that the plow is completely indexed in amatter of seconds, but it is slowed sufliciently to prevent shocking orjarring of the parts.

Since the main beam 41 is automatically indexed to locate the left setof plows 22, 23 in working position upon raising of the hitch 16, it isonly necessary to turn the tractor around and lower the hitch in orderthat the left set of plows may be used to cut furrows on the returntraverse of the tractor. The automatic draft or depth control is equallyeffective in maintaining the operating position of the left set of plowsconstant as the tractor advances. This depth of operation for the plowsis determined by the setting of the quadrant lever after the hitch hasbeen lowered.

With the plow 15 indexed originally as shown in Figs, 1, 2, and 3, thefront coulter blade 17s? is located at the right of the tractors centerline leading in front of the forward right plow 21. As the beam 41 isrotated the radial pin 82. shown uppermost in Fig. 2 strikes. the leftside of the lug 131 on the rear end of the coulter link 1'78, swingingthe latter counterclockwise about its pivot bolt 179. The depending pin13?. at the rear end of the coulter link 178 thus pushes the coulter arm174 to the left, swinging it counterclockwise (Fig. 8) about its pivotbolt 175. This swings the forward end of the coulter arm 1% to the leftof the tractors center line and places the front coulter blade 1711 inworking position ahead of the front left plow unit 23.

The rear couiter blade 2% was originally depending to operate in frontof the rear right plow life, but

upon rotation of the main beam 41 and the plow beams 44-, 45 carried byit, the weight of the rear coulter blade 21761, fork 2-11 and stem 2132causes the spring 2419 to yield and the sleeve 2&3 to rotate on the pin2414 so that the blade 2th) flips over to depend from the rear plow beamshank 45a in working position ahead of the left rear plow unit 22 whenthe hitch 16 is again lowered. in each case, the front and rear coultersare limited in their movement and their positions determined by therespective stop bolts 189 and 212.

In plowing operations, the rear tractor wheel on the side of the workingplows is usually operated in the adjacent furrow with the opposite rearWheel on the unplowed or land side. This results in a tilting of thetractor about its longitudinal axis, the working plow side being lower.Manifestly, the greater the depth of plowing, the greater the degree ofthis tilt. It is desirable, nevertheless, that the Working plow units bemaintained in a substantially upright position regardless of the depthof plowing, i.e., that their moldboards be vertical with respect to theland surface. By providing the adjustable stop bolts 78, 7 and pin 86)for the main beam 41, the rotational travel of the beam upon indexingmay be limited to less than 180 degrees. This has the effect ofcompensating for such tilting of the tractor, the retational range ofthe main beam being made less as For very shallow plowing, the beam 41would be rotated through 180 degrees to position the plows moldboardsvertically with respect to the land surface. Conversely, when deepfurrows are being cut and the tilt of the tractor is relatively great,the stop bolts 78, 79 may be withdrawn to limit the rotation of the beamto about degrees, the range of rotation being around degrees for theusual depth of plowing.

Upon such adjustment in the ran e through which the main beam 41 rotatesin indexing or alternating the plow sets, the lateral positions of theplow sets relative to the tractor are varied slightly. In order that thefront and rear coulters properly lead the working plows, however, thestop bolts 158, 189 for the front coulter and the stop bolts 212, 213for the rear coulter may be adjusted to limit their swing and place theblades 171i and 200 directly in front of the corresponding workingplows. For example, when the plow 15 is operated to lit a relativelygreat depth and the rotational range of the beam 41 limited by the beamstop bolts 78, '79, the plow sets will work at positions displaced by arelatively small amount from a vertical plane through the longitudinalcenter line of the tractor. Under such conditions, the front coulterStop bolts 188, 139 are screwed in to a considerable degree to permitthe coulter blade to swing into proper alinenient with the front plowset. The rear coulter stop bolts 212., 2E3, on the other hand, areretracted to limit the swing of the sleeve and stem and thus hold therear coulter in line with the rear plow set. Exact location of the twocoulters in front of their working plows may be accomplished by a propersetting of the bolts. When the plow units are being worked to only aslight depth, on the other hand, they reside substantially directlyunder the shanks of the plow beams, and, in such case, the swing of thefront coulter is limited by retracting the stop bolts 183, 189. Therotational swing of the rear coulter is increased by screwing the rearcoulter stop bolts 212, 213 inwardly so that the stem 202 and blade 2%depend substantially vertically from the plow beam shank 45a.

It is but a simple matter to adjust the fore-and-aft tilt angle of theplows, thereby maintaining them horizontally disposed at various depthsof plowing and preventing any serious tendency to dig deeper or ride outof the ground. The clamp caps 98 may be loosened and the opposedadjustment bolts 161, 102 complementally screwed to swing the plow beams44, 45 about the longitudinal axis of the crossbar 4-6. The clampportions 4-8 on the forward ends of the plow beams M, 45 slide easilyover the mating curved surface of the crossbars trailing edge 97. Thebolts ml, 102 in themselves serve to hold the plow beams 4-4, 45 in aselected tilt position, but tightening of the clamp caps 8 further locksthem due to the non-rotatable embracing engagement with the V-shapedleading edge 96 of the crossbar 46.

The lag or lead angles of the plows relative to the longitudinal centerline of the tractor, i.e., the tractors direction of travel, may alsoeasily be adjusted by loosening the king bolt 94 and complementallyadjusting the bolts 94, 95' to swing the integral tab 91 on the crossbar46 within the beams cavity 92. The crossbar 46 itself is thus pivotedabout the king bolt 91, and tightening of the king bolt clamps it in aselected position for the desired lag or lead angle. This adjustmentmakes possible the realization of operation with a truly forward pull onthe plow when difierent plow units or worn plow units having differentamounts of side thrust are employed. Any tendency of the plow to swingthe tractor or to make steering difiicult can be eliminated by thesimple adjustment of the lag-lead stop bolts as described.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a two-way plow for use on a tractor having a hydraulic pressuresystem and an elevatable rear hitch actuated thereby, the combinationcomprising a housing adapted to be mounted on the rear hitch, arotatable main beam jour'naled in said housing, a pair of plows mountedin spaced relation from said beam to be brought alternately into workingpositions upon limited rotation of the beam, hydraulic ram means forrotating said beam, and control means for connecting the tractorshydraulic system to actuate said ram means automatically upon theraising of the rear bitch and the housing carried by it, said controlmeans including a valve rotatable step-bystep in one direction, andmechanism engageable by the tractor hitch for imparting rotative stepsto the val e.

2. In a two-way plow for use on a tractor, the combination comprising arotatable main beam, a pair of plows mounted in spaced relation fromsaid beam to be brought alternately into working positions upon limitedrotation of the beam, a pair of opposed hydraulic rams adapted to bemoved in unison, a rack disposed between said rams and given oppositelon itudinal movement by each ram,

12 said rack extending transversely of said beam, a pinion fast on saidbeam and meshed with said rack to rotate said beam upon actuation ofsaid rams, valve means rotatable step-by-step for connecting said ramsalternately to a source of pressure fluid on the tractor, and a pawl andratchet mechanism for rotating said valve.

3. in a two-way plow adapted to be mounted on a tractorspower-elevatable rear hitch, the combination of a housing, a main beamjoumaled in said housing, a pair of plows mounted in spaced relationfrom said beam to be brought alternately into working position uponlimited rotation of the beam, hydraulic means for imparting suchrotation to said beam, a rotary valve for controlling said hydraulicmeans, a ratchet wheel connected to said rotary valve, and a pawlengaged with said ratchet wheel and mounted to be actuated as anincident to elevation of the rear hitch, whereby said beam is rotatedautomatically when the plow is raised.

4. In a two-way plow adapted to be mounted on a tractorspower-elevatable rear hitch, the combination comprising a rotatablypositionable main beam, a pair of plows mounted in spaced relation fromsaid beam to be brought alternately into Working positions upon limitedrotation of the beam, adjustable stop means engageable by the beam fordefining the Working position, hydraulic means for imparting suchrotation to said beam, control means actuated automatically incident tothe raising and lowering of the hitch for controlling said hydraulicmeans, and a restricted orifice interposed between said hydraulic meansand a hydraulic pressure source to retard the speed at which said beamis rotated and thereby minimize shock as the beam engages one of thestops.

5. In a two-way plow adapted to be mounted on the rear hitch of atractor equipped with a hydraulic actuator for raising the hitch, thecombination comprising a rotatable main beam, a pair of plows mounted inspaced relation from said beam to be brought alternately into workingpositions upon rotation of the beam, hydraulic ram means acting througha rack and pinion for imparting such rotation to said beam, and valvemeans connecting said hydraulic ram means to receive pressure fluid inparallel with the hydraulic actuator for said rear hitch, saidconnection conditioning said ram means to swing said main beam andselect one of said plows for operation incident to a raising of thetractors hitch and precluding actuation of said ram means to move theselected plow from working position when the hitch linkage is lowered.

6. In a two-way plow for use with a tractor, the combination comprisinga hollow housing, a fore-and-aft main beam journaled in said housing,means for mounting a pair of plows on said beam spaced to be broughtalternately into working positions upon rotation of the beam, a pair ofhollow arms oppositely and transversely extending from said housing forreceiving mounting hitch links on the tractor, a U-shaped strutextending upwardly from said housing for connecting to a hitch controllink on the tractor, actuating means for rotating said beam protectivelydisposed in said arms, and control means for said actuating meansprotectively mounted in said strut.

7. In a two-Way plow for use with a tractor, the combination comprisinga hollow cylindrical housing, a foreand-aft main beam journaled in saidhousing and extending rearwardly therefrom, means for mounting a pair ofplows on said beam spaced to be brought alternately into workingpositions upon limited rotation of the beam, 21 pair of hollow armsextending oppositely and transversely from said housing andcommunicating with the interior thereof, the extremities of said armsbeing adapted for connection to mounting hitch links on the tractor, aU-shaped strut extending upwardly from said housing and adapted at itsupper end for connection to a hitch control link on the tractor, a pairof hydraulic rams each including a piston disposed in one of said arms,a rack gear in said housing and floatedly disposed between said rams,

13 a pinion gear fast on said beam and meshed with said rack gear toeifect rotation of said beam upon movement of said rams, and a hydrauliccontrol valve for said rams protectively mounted within said strut.

8. In an implement for use with a tractor having a pair of trailingpivoted lower links and a trailingly pivoted upper link and also a powerlift device for raising the lower links, the combination of an implementframe, means pivotally connecting said frame with the trailing ends ofthe links for scissoring of the frame and upper link toward and fromeach other as an incident to the raising and lowering of the frame bythe power lift device, a control valve carried by said frame, valveactuating means on said frame including a member pivotally mounted onthe frame and having one end positioned to be engaged by the upper linkand rocked thereby from a rest position to an operated position as theframe and upper link scissors toward each other, means operativelyconnecting said member with said valve, and means operative to restoresaid member to rest position as the upper link and frame scissors awayfrom each other.

9. In a two-way plow for use with a tractor having a hydraulic systemincluding a source of pressure fluid and a pressure fluid elevatablehitch linkage, the combination comprising a housing having means formounting it on the hitch linkage, a rotatable beam journalled in saidhousing, a pair of plows mounted in spaced relation from said beam to bebrought alternately into working positions upon limited rotation of thebeam, hydraulic ram means operable to rotate said beam, control meansincluding a two-position valve interposed between the source of pressurefluid on the tractor and said ram means effective in one position tocause said ram means to rotate said beam to locate one of said plows inworking position and elfective in the other position to cause said rammeans to rotate the beam to locate the other of said plows in workingposition, and mechanism operable in response to the raising of the hitchlinkage for shifting said valve from the position in which it has beenset to its alternate position.

10. In a two-way plow for use with a tractor having a hydraulic systemincluding a source of pressure fluid and a pressure fluid elevatablehitch linkage, the combination comprising a housing having means formounting it on the hitch linkage, a rotatable beam journalled in saidhousing, a pair of plows mounted in spaced relation from said beam to bebrought alternately into Working positions upon limited rotation of thebeam, hydraulic ram means operable to rotate said beam, control meansincluding a two-position valve interposed between the source of pressurefluid on the tractor and said ram means effective in one position tocause said ram means to rotate said beam to locate one of said plows inworking position and effective in the other position to cause said rammeans to rotate the beam to locate the other of said plows in workingposition, a valve actuator operable to shift said valve alternately fromone position to the other, and means for operating said actuator inresponse to the raising of the hitch linkage.

11. In a two-way plow for use with a tractor having a hydraulic systemincluding a source of pressure fluid and a pressure fluid elevatablehitch linkage, the com bination comprising a housing having means formounting it on the hitch linkage, a rotatable beam journalled in saidhousing, a pair of plows mounted in spaced relation from said beam to bebrought alternately into working positions upon limited rotation of thebeam, bydraulic ram means operable to rotate said beam, control meansincluding a two-position valve interposed between the source of pressurefluid on the tractor and said ram means effective in one position tocause said ram means to rotate said beam to locate one of said plows inworking position and effective in the other position to cause said rammeans to rotate the beam to locate the other of said plows in workingposition, and a valve actuator engageable by said linkage as it israised for shifting said valve from one position to the other.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,085,298 Rideout Jan. 27, 1914 1,724,635 Bath Aug. 13, 1929 1,817,552Galloway Aug. 4, 1931 1,864,639 Crezee June 28, 1932 2,251,452 HirstAug. 5, 1941 2,262,432 Rodder et a1 Nov. 11, 1941 2,374,016 HenneuseApr. 17, 1945 2,385,950 Silver Oct. 2, 1945 2,543,786 Lindeman Mar. 6,1951 2,611,301 Ego Sept. 23, 1952 2,618,211 Fraga Nov. 18, 19522,633,786 Pursche Apr. 7, 1953 2,637,256 Lindeman May 5, 1953 2,659,284Pursche Nov. 17, 1953 2,697,973 Silver et a1. Dec. 28, 1954 2,698,563Edwards Jan. 4, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,006,493 France Jan. 23, 1952236,949 Switzerland July 16, 1945

